Urbana City Council is expected to vote on a resolution seeking to establish a Stormwater Advisory Committee during its 6 p.m. meeting today in municipal court chambers.
“One of the things that continues to challenge communities, whether it’s us or Springfield, is the continuing requirements to maintain our stormwater system,” Director of Administration Kerry Brugger said during council’s July 5 meeting.
Brugger added, in order to keep up with maintenance and improvements to the stormwater system, the city relies on the General Fund instead of a stormwater utility. When money from the General Fund is used on the stormwater system, it means less funds are available for roads and other projects.
“One of the things we are trying to work on is trying to develop a plan for how we maintain and how we improve our stormwater infrastructure without getting to the point where we are just sucking the life out of all the other funds that feed into the General Fund,” he said. “A lot of communities are looking at the opportunity to develop a stormwater utility.”
If council signs off on establishing a Stormwater Advisory Committee, it’s job would be to assist city staff in making a recommendation to council on or before Nov. 30 on the feasibility of implementing a stormwater utility.
The resolution calls for the all-volunteer Stormwater Advisory Committee to be a short-term committee made up of any and all interested residents, at least one council member, city Engineer Tyler Bumbalough and Wastewater Superintendent Chad Hall.
“We really believe we are at a point where we have to make a decision that hasn’t been made in the past, and that is to evaluate the stormwater system and our infrastructure,” Brugger said.
As for additional legislative measures, council will hear the second reading of an ordinance to amend the Urbana Corridor Development Standards as originally established by Chapter 1127 of the city’s codified ordinances.
In regard to mosquito control, council will be asked to waive the three-readings rule and pass on first reading a resolution authorizing Brugger to collaborate with the Champaign County Health District to participate in the 2016 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Mosquito Control Grant Program.
Board of Control items
The main entrances and terminal parking lot at Grimes Field could soon receive facelifts if council approves administration’s request to hire Stevens Pavement Care to perform asphalt maintenance repair at a cost of $11,870.
If approved, the work would include spot repairs to the asphalt, crack-filling, application of a sealcoat, restriping of parking lines, and the installation of parking blocks.
Administration will also seek council’s approval to spend $21,835 for the purchase of 62 MaTech LED retrofit kits from Vonville, Leuin and Associates LLC for the conversion of the Scioto Street decorative street lights.
A purchase order to Lakeside Equipment in the amount of $22,469 for the purchase of a replacement screen basket for the septage receiving station at the city’s Water Reclamation Facility is also scheduled to undergo council’s vote.
